Massachusetts gay marriage opponents move closer to ballot initiative News
Massachusetts gay marriage opponents move closer to ballot initiative

[JURIST] Supporters of a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive] in Massachusetts delivered 170,000 signatures to the secretary of state Wednesday, moving them one step closer to putting the initiative on the ballot in 2008. The drive, headed by the Massachusetts Family Institute [advocacy website] and other conservatives, resulted in 147,000 certified signatures, with only 65,825 needed to qualify the initiative. The initiative must now gain the support of 50 of the 200 state legislators in successive legislative sessions before being approved for the ballot. The state legislature in September rejected a constitutional amendment [JURIST report] that would have replaced same-sex marriage with civil unions, although a majority vote was needed for that amendment to succeed. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.